Prop for carriage-tops



(Model.)

A. s. PARKER.

P ROP FOR CARRIAGE TOPS.

No. 269,878. Patented Jan.2,1883.

FIGUR.

FIG.1.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT @Ferca ABIJAH S. PARKER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

PROP FOR CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269.878, dated January 2, 1883. Application filed January 30, 1882. (Model.)

To all whom fit may concern Be it known that I, ABIJAH S. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Props for Carriage and Buggy Tops, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to that class of topprops in which the bolt orstem on which the prop-jointis pivoted is passed through the bow. The novelty of my invention consists in the combination, with the bow and the bolt inserted therethrough, of separate clips embracing the bow on both sides and edges and held in place by the bola-whereby the bow is prevented from splitting and the bolt from turning therein; also, in an improved device for preventing the displacement of the-staynut, all as will be herewith sett'orth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a prop, showing a modification ot' my invention.v Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view ofthe nut-locking washer. Fig. t'is a sectional view, showing the application of my improved prop. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, showing` a second modification ot' my improvement.

The props hitherto iu use have either been fastened to the bows by means of-plates screwed thereon, into sockets of which the bolt or stem was screwed without passing through the bow, or else the bolts were formed with integral T- shaped heads, which, when the bolts were inserted through the bow embraced the same on its edges to prevent the splitting of the bow.

The objection of the first ot' these constructions is that the screws which hold the plate are liable to work loose or pull out; and to the secand construction the objection is that there is difficulty in forming the T-shaped heads integral with the bolts and making them the proper size. Afurther objection to both forms is'that the bolt has to be secured to the bow before the top lining and cover'are applied, and in applying the latter it is a difficult matter to cut the holes in the proper place in the cover for the bolt to extend through.

To remedy these difficulties and at the same time obtain all the advantages of strength and cheapness, I have devised the construction [shown in Fig. 4,wl1erc A is the bolt, B the bow, and c c the embracing-clips, one of which is shown in perspective to the right of Fig. 4. These clips are made of wrought-iron struck up and centrally perforated, as shown, and otl sufficient size to snugly embrace the bow on its edges, as shown. When applied to the per- .forated bow, as shown, t-he lining and cover are applied, and then the bolt is passed through the apertures in the clips, and the perforation inthe bow and its head serves to hold one ot' the clips in place, while the usual thimble, C, Figs. l and 2, holds the other. Over the boltnut to the thimble is slipped a washer, E, then the propjoint or brace D, and tinally the usual stay-nut, F, is screwed over the end, holding all in place.

To prevent the stay-nut F from jarring ott'or from being turned by the vibration of the propjoint in its usual operation, I cut awayportions of the threaded end of the bolt forming hat recesses on each side thereof', as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and bet'ore screwing on the nut F, I spring a slotted metal washer, G, Figs. 2 and 3, around the recessed portion of the bolt, so that it embraces the flat recesses before mentioned, and cannot be pulled or slip oft', owing` to the shoulders formed atf, where the mouth or opening of the slot is made narrower than the body or rear part thereof. By now screwing on the nut F to its proper place it will be seen that an immovable division is interposed between the nut and the swinging head of the brace D, so that the movement of.' the latter cannot turn the nut.

It' desired, the ends b of the washer may be prolonged, as shown in Fig. 3, and maybe bent up against the side ofthe nut, as seen in Fig. l, thereby'preventing the nut from being turned by jarring or other means aside from the action of the brace.

I am aware that slotted washers have been employed as nut-locks; but in such construction the slot in the washer was of uniform width and could be slipped onto and oit' the bolt without impediment and without springing the washer. In such construction the washer is liable to be misplaced or to slip ott'.

As a moditication of my invention the 4clips a, Figs. l and 2 and 5, might have enlarged central port-ions orswells, into which the threaded end of a headless bolt is screwed, as seen;

IOO

lint l prefer the construction shown in Fig. 4, as the simplest and best. Where the construetion shown in Fign is employed the headless bolt might have a swell or shoulders, d, to embrace the outer face ofthe bow, and also a square or flattened portiolne, capable of being` gripped by a wrench or spanner to enable the bolt to be easily screwed into the clip a.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In a top-prop, the combination, with the bow, of the two separate flanged clips, applied ro opposite sides of the bow so as to embrace the same, and the separate removable bolt passing vthrough the bow and the clips, and susceptible of application after the clips have been applied, substantially as described.

In a top-prop, the combination, with the bolt and the brace-joint hung thereon and the stay-nur, of the slotted washer interposed between the brace-joint and the nut, and having the shoulders ff for preventing its accidental displacement after itis applied, substantially as described.

A. S. PARKER.

fitnessesz JERE F. TwoI-He, GUS. A. MEYER. 

